It had to be. No one but that damned ship’s captain could know Juliana was here, and he had bargained with the priest’s minions. How long since she’d been taken, where exactly was she being held, and how to find answers to those questions? He’d start with the traitorous captain.

Robert raced from the inn. If the priest had her, then she was among the accused heretics he would try. If found guilty, she would burn at the stake. But even before that she would suffer untold tortures. The thought of Juliana broken in body and spirit chilled Robert’s soul. No one deserved the cruelty Basti was famous for, least of all her. He must find a way to rescue her. Even if it cost him his hope of heaven.

This is the last excerpt. Please share your thoughts in a comment.

BLURB: If Sir Robert Clarwyn can’t find a way to compel Lady Juliana Verault to return to England, he’ll lose any chance of regaining his family lands and redeeming his heritage. Yet Juliana must complete her mission to improve her gender’s future in the church. With danger and intrigue mounting, Robert and Juliana must rely on each other and risk everything … including their hearts.

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Lindsey Excerpt 12: While supporting Logan’s head, Lindsey held a flask to his parched, cracked lips and dribbled the liquid into his mouth. He sputtered, gulping at the water.

“Easy,” she said, giving him sips while she studied his disfigured face. “I’m here to help ye.”

One eye was swollen shut, the other barely open. His brown hair hung in filthy strands across his forehead, and a red irritated gash crossed his grimy cheek. She sat on the nasty hard floor and cradled his head in her lap. The medicinal salves would do little to heal him, but she had to try.

Set in late thirteenth century Scotland, this series tells the stories of Laird Alastair MacDougall’s four independent and oftentimes, headstrong daughters coming of age in a country fraught with war and feuds amongst rival clans. Follow his daughters as their lives become intertwined with four fierce, rebel highland warriors bent on eradicating the English soldiers from their homeland.

BLURB: Lindsey

Who said life was fair? Certainly not Lindsey MacDougall. She rebels at a world dominated by men. Dressed in lad’s clothing, she manages her father’s stables, caring for, breeding and selling horses. Unwavering on performing her duty to the rebellion, Lindsey throws caution to the wind and secretly delivers missives behind enemy lines to the Scottish warriors.

Logan Ross uses his happy-go-lucky smile to warm the hearts of many willing lasses, but it also masks his pain—the pain of his birth. As a bastard son, he is unacceptable for any Laird’s daughter, including the spirited Lindsey MacDougall. However, she haunts his dreams. Determined to prove his worth, he throws himself into the middle of the rebellion, leading men into mortal danger.

After helping Logan escape from a brutal English dungeon, Lindsey fights her traitorous attraction to the virile highland warrior, vowing never to lose her heart to any man.

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Lucan Excerpt 11: Just when he thought the end had come, that he had lost the battle, the man’s head flew clean off his shoulders. Blood spurted red as dawn from the gaping hole, splattering him with its warmth. The metallic smell assaulted him as the headless body began to topple. Before it could fall on top of him, he shoved it aside and found Màili standing over him. Blood streaked her face, giving her the appearance of an ancient shield-maiden. She grinned and stuck out her hand to haul him to his feet.

BLURB: Neala Comyn, wife of a powerful laird, wants to end the pain and suffering of an abusive marriage. She is a woman without hope, believing God has forsaken her. When she is kidnapped by a rival laird who claims to be a god himself, her faith is further shaken. Could Lucan Munro be the salvation she has prayed for? Or will her sins condemn her to eternal damnation?

Lucan Munro, has the power of a Celtic god. He can conjure his heart’s desire from thin air. But can he save the woman he loves from a demon hell-bent on claiming her soul?

BLURB: Laura Reynolds is in love with her long-time friend, Jamie Maxwell Collins. She adores his playful sense of humor, caring nature as well as his strong sense of family and honor.

Jamie lives across the border in Scotland. Outwardly carefree, he hides a dark secret. He can’t involve Laura in this deception. He can’t give her hope for a future together.

Laura stumbles upon Jamie’s secret. In her heart of hearts she knows Jamie is innocent. Their relationship in tatters and with no hope of reconciliation, she plays a deadly game to exonerate Jamie, she agrees to a political marriage. She has no idea the entire game has been orchestrated by her future husband, Jamie’s greatest enemy.

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Cathy MacRae show us that sometimes betrayal is closer than you think.

The Highlander’s French Bride Excerpt 9: She opened her eyes, settling her gaze on Melisende’s shocked face.

“Once Raul began annulment proceedings, their interest increased a hundredfold. I will have no lack of sponsors once I return.”

“That is a shameful way to live, and you know it, Lucienne.” Tears burned in Melisende’s eyes. “How can you do this to yourself?” She swept a hand toward the bed. “To her?”

Follow along for the next excerpt on Lane McFarland’s Medieval Monday blog April 10!

Blurb: Heir to a lairdship, Kinnon Macrory is driven to prove his worth by fighting the English on the battlefields of France. His dreams of heroic valor are destroyed by the realities of war—the atrocities visited by fellow soldiers on the very people he is sworn to protect. Three years in a French prison for a crime he did not commit leave Kinnon longing for the one thing of beauty in his war-torn life—a young woman of great kindness and wisdom named Melisende.

Melisende de la Roche struggles to stay one step ahead of soldiers who would imprison her for helping an injured Scotsman wrongly accused of treason. She finds refuge in her uncle’s shop—until a chance encounter sends her fleeing into the unknown once again, haunted by the beguiling friendship with the troubled young Scotsman she is certain she will never see again.

Determined to find the woman of his dreams, Kinnon returns to France, only to discover nothing more than a trail of clues to Melisende’s whereabouts. Their reunion will open the doors to passion, but half-truths and lies from the past could destroy the one thing they both are willing to fight for—each other.

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Roke’s gaze bore into him. He shrugged. “She upset many powerful men with her refusals.” He ran a finger along one of the blades on the table. “Still, I gave you ample time. You had an entire week. Why didn’t you finish her?”

Damien did not answer. What answer could he give Roke? That he had failed? Never. In keeping Aurora alive, he succeeded far beyond anything he could have imagined. And he would see her safe, no matter the cost to himself.

Roke was silent for a moment, studying him. “And you returned here to…?”

Damien was quiet. He could not tell him the truth of his intent. A new mission which he had every intention of completing.

Roke’s lips twisted into a smile of grim disappointment. “Why did you leave Acquitaine?”

“There was no reason to stay,” Damien admitted. And it was the truth. He couldn’t stay in Acquitaine. Not seeing the agony and condemnation in Aurora’s eyes every time he looked at her.

BLURB: Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay…

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother’s cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother’s murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

Can Aurora’s light heal Damien’s dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.

The priest shook his head. “Words are not empty. Vows are binding, and vows of intent to wed have been likened to betrothal. A betrothal is as binding as a ceremony.”

“Never heard of that,” Mortimer shouted.

“It’s an old rule, made by the Church hundreds of years ago.”

“You lie.” Mortimer’s voice shook with fury.

“Of course, that tradition may no longer be observed.” The priest retreated a pace, his tone placating. “But the bishop should be consulted. We wouldn’t wish to–”

“I demand you marry us.” Mortimer’s voice became wild, and he brandished his sword. “It’s why I brought you from London, you lazy imbecile. Since then you’ve done nothing but lounge in my hall and eat my food. Now get to it, or by God you won’t marry anyone ever again.”

Blurb: He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.

BLURB: Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

“I said she does not need to tell me.” Peter clipped each word. This man was surely the vilest creature he’d ever met.

“No. No! You should be told.” Ivan suddenly became serious, his eyes widening as if not telling him might stop the sun from rising on the morrow. “A room very much like this one was where I offered her my complete protection.”

Ivan moved in closer to Brighit, sliding one hand down her forearm to rest on her clasped hands, the other hand unseen behind her. Brighit gave a stiffened jump. The bastard had grabbed her arse.

BLURB: Brighit MacNaughton is an obedient daughter following her father’s death bed decree that she take her vows and become the virginal bride of Christ. The hired men seeing her to the Priory at Tanshelf are more interested in the building resentment against the English king than her safety. But when the handsome Norman knight offers his protection against the lecherous mercenaries, he sparks her passion with his gentle touch and smoldering looks of desire, reminding her of dreams best forgotten. Can one night with him quench the intense need in her or will it cause the fire to burn out of control?

Peter of Normandy is a trusted knight of King William, sent north to subdue the unrest and rumblings of revolt at York. Giving aid to an Irish princess more noble than many knights, he is quickly overcome with the need to possess her. With a body meant for a man’s pleasure and an unrelenting stubbornness to follow her father’s wishes, he struggles against giving her what she wants if it can only be for one night. Will one night of passion prove to be enough or will it unleash an insatiable need that makes him never want to let her go?